Wellness

[Sunshine]

I'm going through chemo and now have Shingles. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I read that it could be contagious to an infant. I agree about keeping your hands clean. This is the 2nd time I've had Shingles. Good luck everyone?

[Nightowlz]

On 12/9/2014 Sunshine said: I'm going through chemo and now have Shingles. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I read that it could be contagious to an infant. I agree about keeping your hands clean. This is the 2nd time I've had Shingles. Good luck everyone?

Sunshine you sure got hit with a double whammy. Sorry you are dealing with this. Chemo would be difficult enough without the Shingles. Take Care & hope you feel better soon. One of my sisters has had Shingles twice. The 2nd time she had them when she had gallbladder surgery but did not know it. She was still in a lot of pain after the gallbladder surgery when she found the rash on her right back side. She now wonders if all the pain was from the Shingles & no gallbladder problem. They did emergency gallbladder surgery because they told her that's what was causing all the pain? Merry Christmas.

[Tissyanne]

nktmt, you are very thoughtful, and caring. When a relative of mine was in ICU with shingles, we were required to wear gloves and a gown. I hope you enjoy your holiday season.

[BellaPaprika]

Don't put yourself and your DH through unnecessary ""precautions"". You cannot pass on shingles.

[nktmt]

Oh Sunshine,

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I know how tough the shingles are.....I can only imagine how tough the Chemo is. It sounds like you are a very strong person & you will conquer all.

Wishing you peace and wellness.

Nancy

[151949]

On 12/9/2014 evelyner said:

Shingles is not contagious. You have to have had chickenpox to get it. The only people I avoided were my little grandkid who had not even had an inoculation. Definitely not catchy through things. Don't be paranoid. Just wear gloves, if that makes you feel better.

Not true !!! Shingles can give someone who has not had chicken pox the chicken pox and it can cause problems with a fetus if someone is pregnant. Could you pass it to someone by handling the wrapped cookies and then that person also handles the same wrapper - certainly. Unless you know for a fact that anyone who may handle the items you have touched has had chicken pox and is not pregnant it is best you do not touch anything that someone else would also touch.Chicken pox in adults can be very serious - i have cared for several folks in ICU with varicella pneumonia from chicken pox and they were very seriously ill. Please don't take this chance - let your DH do the bags for you.

[betteb]

On 12/9/2014 happy housewife said:

On 12/9/2014 evelyner said:

Shingles is not contagious. You have to have had chickenpox to get it. The only people I avoided were my little grandkid who had not even had an inoculation. Definitely not catchy through things. Don't be paranoid. Just wear gloves, if that makes you feel better.

Not true !!! Shingles can give someone who has not had chicken pox the chicken pox and it can cause problems with a fetus if someone is pregnant. Could you pass it to someone by handling the wrapped cookies and then that person also handles the same wrapper - certainly. Unless you know for a fact that anyone who may handle the items you have touched has had chicken pox and is not pregnant it is best you do not touch anything that someone else would also touch.Chicken pox in adults can be very serious - i have cared for several folks in ICU with varicella pneumonia from chicken pox and they were very seriously ill. Please don't take this chance - let your DH do the bags for you.

OP-Please ignore happy housewife. You would have to have weeping blisters on your hands and the other person would have to touch the item right after you did. The Shingles virus can not live on surfaces more than 24 hours.

[151949]

On 12/9/2014 Tissyanne said: nktmt, you are very thoughtful, and caring. gown. When a relative of mine was in ICU with shingles, we were required to wear gloves and a gown I hope you enjoy your holiday season.

patients who are in the hospital and have shingles have to be in isolation - but hey, what would I know , I am just an RN with 42 years of experience.

[BellaPaprika]

Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles.The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters caused by shingles.

A person with active shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before the blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.

This is verbatim from the CDC.

[hckynut]

I've had shingles and do not believe it to be contagious.